Camera won't focus or autofocus keeps hunting

Symptoms

• Lens moves back and forth without ever locking focus
• Focus confirmation beep never sounds
• Works fine in bright light but struggles indoors
• Only happens with a specific lens

Likely causes

• CommonLow light or low-contrast scene confusing autofocusAutofocus systems need enough light and contrast to detect edges.
• CommonAutofocus mode mismatched to the subject, like continuous mode on a still subjectWrong AF mode can cause searching behavior.
• PossibleDirty lens or camera electrical contactsPoor contact between lens and body can disrupt autofocus communication.
• PossibleLens set to manual focus by mistakeA small switch on many lenses toggles between auto and manual focus.
• Less commonAutofocus motor or sensor fault in the lens or bodyHardware issue, often isolated to one specific lens.

What to do

1. Check the focus mode switch on the lens to confirm it's set to autofocus, not manual.
2. Try focusing on a higher-contrast edge or object rather than a flat, low-contrast surface.
3. Test in brighter lighting to see if hunting stops, which points to a low-light limitation rather than a fault.
4. Clean the lens's electrical contacts and the camera body's mount contacts with a dry cloth.
5. Switch autofocus modes, such as from continuous to single-shot, to match the type of subject.
6. Test a different lens on the same body to isolate whether the issue is the lens or the camera.
7. If autofocus hunts consistently with multiple lenses even in good light, the camera body's autofocus system may need service.

Tools and parts

• Soft dry cloth

When to call a pro

If a different lens also hunts on the same body in good lighting, a camera repair shop can test the body's autofocus module.

Safety